Saturday, November 30, 2013

Hex Hall (Hex Hall #1) by Rachel Hawkins

10:41 AM Mackenzie @ Oh, For the Love of Books! DNF, hex hall, loved, rachel hawkins 2 comments

Hex Hall (Hex Hall #1)
by Rachel Hawkins
Source: Library
Pages: 323
Format: Hardback

Rating: DNF (but not for a bad reason!)

Goodreads Synopsis:

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father--an elusive European warlock--only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tagalong ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect.

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

My Review:

I know my rating says DNF, but don't jump to conclusions yet! Most of the time I DNF because, well, quite frankly, the book was flat out boring or I just hated it with the passion of a thousand fiery suns. Not the case. I actually really enjoyed this book!

So why the DNF? Unfortunately, I had to return this book before I left the state. I know. So sad. But, even though this was a DNF for me, I wanted to spread the love I had for what few pages I read! Even though I didn't complete it, it was no doubt a fun book already. Sophie was wonderfully sarcastic and stubborn. Always a plus in my book. And Jenna? A pink loving vamp? Sure. Why not? ;)

Overall:

A very good start! While I can't give a definitive rating because I failed to finish, what I did read was incredibly fun and I had a really good feeling about this book! I hope to pick it up again soon and give y'all a much better and more thorough review.

All the best (and Happy late Thanksgiving!) ♥

Mackenzie

Waiting on Wednesday (34)

2:44 PM Mackenzie @ Oh, For the Love of Books! No comments

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we showcase upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating.

Across a Star Swept Sea (For Darkness Shows the Stars #2)

by Diana Peterfreund

Release Date: October 15, 2013

Goodreads Synopsis:

Centuries after wars nearly destroyed civilization, the two islands of New Pacifica stand alone, a terraformed paradise where even the Reduction—the devastating brain disorder that sparked the wars—is a distant memory. Yet on the isle of Galatea, an uprising against the ruling aristocrats has turned deadly. The revolutionaries’ weapon is a drug that damages their enemies’ brains, and the only hope is rescue by a mysterious spy known as the Wild Poppy.

On the neighboring island of Albion, no one suspects that the Wild Poppy is actually famously frivolous aristocrat Persis Blake. The teenager uses her shallow, socialite trappings to hide her true purpose: her gossipy flutternotes are encrypted plans, her pampered sea mink is genetically engineered for spying, and her well-publicized new romance with handsome Galatean medic Justen Helo… is her most dangerous mission ever.

Though Persis is falling for Justen, she can’t risk showing him her true self, especially once she learns he’s hiding far more than simply his disenchantment with his country’s revolution and his undeniable attraction to the silly socialite he’s pretending to love. His darkest secret could plunge both islands into a new dark age, and Persis realizes that when it comes to Justen Helo, she’s not only risking her heart, she’s risking the world she’s sworn to protect.

In this thrilling adventure inspired by The Scarlet Pimpernel, Diana Peterfreund creates an exquisitely rendered world where nothing is as it seems and two teens with very different pasts fight for a future only they dare to imagine.

Why I'm Waiting:

I know this book is already out, but I'm technically still waiting on it since I haven't been able to read it yet :) Besides, this deserves its own post because it sounds amazing! A ditzy socialite who is actually and incredible spy?! A hottie with a secret?! This book just sounds chock full of secrets and mysteries tangled up in one epic book!

So what are y'all waiting on this fine Wednesday?
Be sure to let me know in the comments below!

All the best ♥
Mackenzie

Waiting on Wednesday (33): A day late

12:00 AM Mackenzie @ Oh, For the Love of Books! fetch, inhuman, kat falls, mutant, post-apoc, sci-fi 4 comments

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we showcase upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating.

Inhuman (Fetch #1)

by Kat Falls

Goodreads Synopsis:

In a world ravaged by mutation, a teenage girl must travel into the forbidden Savage Zone to recover lost artifacts or her father’s life is forfeit.

America has been ravaged by a war that has left the eastern half of the country riddled with mutation. Many of the people there exhibit varying degrees of animal traits. Even the plantlife has gone feral.

Crossing from west to east is supposed to be forbidden, but sometimes it’s necessary. Some enter the Savage Zone to provide humanitarian relief. Sixteen-year-old Lane’s father goes there to retrieve lost artifacts—he is a Fetch. It’s a dangerous life, but rewarding—until he’s caught.

Desperate to save her father, Lane agrees to complete his latest job. That means leaving behind her life of comfort and risking life and limb—and her very DNA—in the Savage Zone. But she’s not alone. In order to complete her objective, Lane strikes a deal with handsome, roguish Rafe. In exchange for his help as a guide, Lane is supposed to sneak him back west. But though Rafe doesn’t exhibit any signs of “manimal” mutation, he’s hardly civilized . . . and he may not be trustworthy.

Why I'm Waiting:

She had me at "handsome, roguish Rafe". Need I say more?

Okay, I'll say more ;)

Here are 3 reasons, besides the obvious rogue, that I'm looking forward to this book.

1. Post-apocalyptic-ish. I'm a sucker for that.

2. Mutations? I'm game.

3. Kick-butt heroine? I can only hope.

So are y'all looking forward to this seemingly action/adventure packed book? Let me know in the comments below!

All the best ♥

Mackenzie

Sorry for the unexplained absence!

12:00 AM Mackenzie @ Oh, For the Love of Books! absence, hiatus 1 comment

Hey guys!

So, in case y'all haven't noticed, I've been MIA these past couple weeks. Sorry about that. I headed back to school and was getting all my classes, books, dorm and life in general together. But, alas, I am back. I know y'all are excited to hear that.

So what do I have planned? Well, this week will probably only be two memes (Waiting on Wednesday and Stacking the Shelves), but come next week I'll start back up with reviews! Woohoo!!!!

Now, to get to writing those reviews!

All the best ♥

Mackenzie

Waiting on Wednesday (32)

11:50 AM Mackenzie @ Oh, For the Love of Books! elizabeth may, faeries, fantasy, historical fiction, the falconer 1 comment

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine in which we showcase upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating.

What I'm Waiting on:

The Falconer (The Falconer #1)

by Elizabeth May

Goodreads Synopsis:

Heiress. Debutant. Murderer. A new generation of heroines has arrived.

Edinburgh, Scotland, 1844

Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, was destined for a life carefully planned around Edinburgh’s social events – right up until a faery killed her mother.

Now it’s the 1844 winter season and Aileana slaughters faeries in secret, in between the endless round of parties, tea and balls. Armed with modified percussion pistols and explosives, she sheds her aristocratic facade every night to go hunting. She’s determined to track down the faery who murdered her mother, and to destroy any who prey on humans in the city’s many dark alleyways.

But the balance between high society and her private war is a delicate one, and as the fae infiltrate the ballroom and Aileana’s father returns home, she has decisions to make. How much is she willing to lose – and just how far will Aileana go for revenge?

Why I'm Waiting:

Read the cover -

"Deputante, Fae-slayer, Murderer"

Um.......awesome!

I'm sold.

Must. Have. Nowwwww.

All the best ♥

Mackenzie

Beat the Heat Readathon Progress Report (Updated Daily!)

11:53 AM Mackenzie @ Oh, For the Love of Books! beat the heat read-a-thon, progress, read-a-thon, update No comments

*Format inspired by Auntie Spinelli's awesome blog progress post!

Monday 7/29
Currently reading: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
Progress: 40%
Books completed: None

Tuesday 7/30
Currently reading: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
Progress: 64%
Books completed: none

Notes: Unfortunately, I didn't read as much as I wanted. I got sidetracked by Pretty Little Liars. Curse Netflix and it's many seasons of shows....

Wednesday 7/31
Currently reading: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
Progress: NONE
Books completed: NONE!
Notes: I read nothing. Absolutely nothing yesterday. I didn't even pick up my Kindle, much less turn the freaking thing on. I'll be better today. I promise! My goal is to finish this book by tomorrow morning and get started on the next. What should I read?

Thursday 8/1
Currently reading: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
Progress: 70%
Books completed today: None
Notes: Um....hardly read any. Yet again.

Friday 8/2
Currently reading: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
Progress: 74%
Books completed today: None
Notes: Wow....a whopping 4%...I'm just that good :P It seems whenever I plan to read, I never actually do. It has to be spontaneous! But I WILL finish this book by tomorrow. Challenge accepted.

Saturday 8/3
Currently reading: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
Progress: 100%
Books completed today: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
Notes: I honestly am at a loss of words for how absolutely amazing this book was. If I could give it a thousand stars I would. Actually, even that wouldn't cover it. Hopefully I will be able to make a coherent review of this absolutely wonderful book.

Sunday 8/4
Currently reading: Nothing
Progress: Nothing
Books completed today: None

WEEK 1 SUMMARY

Books I completed this week: Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas

Monday 8/5
Currently reading: Sweet Venom by Tara Lynn Childs
Progress: 100 of 344
Books completed today: None

Tuesday 8/6
Currently reading: Sweet Venom by Tara Lynn Childs
Progress: 261
Books completed today: None

Notes: So far, Sweet Venom is a fun, mythological adventure! The three girls are about as different as you can possibly get, yet I love all three of them! Though, Greer is a bit hard to like, I understand where she's coming from so I feel as if she'll redeem herself :)

Wednesday 8/7
Currently reading: Sweet Venom by Tara Lynn Childs
Progress: COMPLETED!!
Books completed today: Sweet Venom by Tara Lynn Childs
Notes: What a fun adventure! I love how distinctly different the girls are! However, I was wishing for a bit more plot wise. Overall, definitely worth reading!

Thursday 8/8
Currently reading: Defiance by C. J. Redwine
Progress: 6%
Books completed today: None
Notes: This one has been on my radar for a while so I'm excited to get started!

Friday 8/9
Currently reading: Defiance by C. J. Redwine
Progress: 26%
Books completed today: None

Saturday 8/10
Currently reading:
Progress:
Books completed today:

Sunday 8/11
Currently reading:
Progress:
Books completed today:

WEEK 2 SUMMARY

Books I completed this week:

2 WEEK FINAL SUMMARY
Total # pages read:
Total time spent reading:
All books completed:

All the best ♥

Mackenzie

Beat the Heat Read-A-Thon!

11:39 AM Mackenzie @ Oh, For the Love of Books! beat the heat read-a-thon, read-a-thon 2 comments

The Beat the Heat Readathon runs from July 29th through August 11th. What does this readathon entail, you ask? Well, read as much or as little as you want – the main point is to READ! You set your own goal, and for two weeks you read as many books as you can/want to reach your goal!
There will be mini-challenges throughout the Readathon for participants, along with a grand prize giveaway at the end!
Sign up at Auntie Spinelli Reads or Phantasmic Reads. You may join whenever you like, but to be eligible for our grand prize giveaway, you must sign up by August 5th.
To join, all you have to do is make a sign-up post – even if it’s just a “Let’s do this!” thing - and add your post URL to the linky below! You can put your goals and progress (will be required for the final giveaway) in your sign-up post, or you can make it separate. Totally up to you! Feel free to copy and paste this handy little list for your post. We don’t mind. :)
In order to enter for the grand prize, you must have a post to keep track of your progress so we can see that you participated.

*Progress post coming later tonight!*

So...I know I said I probably wouldn't participate in another read-a-thon, but I lied. Sue me. This one is totally worth it! This is the last leg of summer before school starts up again so I decided to go out with a bang! Well, probably not a bang because, let's face it, who knows how much I'll read. But, it'll be fun participating in the challenges and at least pushing myself. Both of the other challenges I participated in I only set my goal at 3 books, which I barely finished, if I finished at all. I admit it, I can be a slow reader and I also don't know how much time I'll have to read because of my volunteering and getting last minute stuff ready for school, so my goal will be small but that's okay! Honestly, if I finish 3 or 4 books I'll be incredibly happy!

I'm currently reading Crown of Midnight and OKMSDFLKAJGADKLSFSDFISFL!!! Okay....calming down. It's good. Obviously.

Future books - I don't really know for sure what books I'm going to read, but here's a list of books I'm going to choose from (a lot of them have sequels coming out or I've had them a while and just want to read em!):